PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Paul Daley (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Will Sams (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Daley
vs
Sams

184 cm
25
185 lbs
5 - 9 - 0

181 cm
20
195 lbs
3 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Very strong

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Paul Daley!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Will Sams!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Johanna Lukiainen and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Daley blocks the body kick.
Daley shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Sams counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Daley!
Daley tries to buck Sams off but he can't manage it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sams with some aggressive grappling here, looking for the finish.
Daley tries to control the position but Sams now has his back.
Sams misses with an elbow to the head.
Daley is defending well here and trying to improve his position.

Daley showing good submission defense here.
Sams missing with strikes.
Sams really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Daley. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Daley is trying to get back to his feet. He's worked up on to his knees and now he's on his feet with his head on the canvas, trying to shake Sams off. It looks like it's working - Sams slides off, much to his dismay, and we're back to standing! Daley displaying calm under pressure there.
Daley fails with the takedown

and Sams counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Daley is not content to let Sams control the position.
Sams tries to stand and escape but Daley is controlling the position.
Sams is trying to control the action in half guard but Daley is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Daley wants to control but Sams is keeping busy and won't allow it.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Will Sams.
Daley tries for a takedown but Sams sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Paul Daley. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Sams scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Sams stalling away here and it's allowed Daley to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Sams would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Daley keeping full guard, as Sams tries to pass.
Sams trying to control the position from guard on top but Daley is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sams throws a strike but Daley rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Sams is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Sams looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Daley puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Daley with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Sams tries to kick Daley off but Daley keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Daley trying to control the action but Sams is working from the bottom.

Daley is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Sams is just riding it out for now. Daley eventually gives up the hold.
Daley is keen to just control but Sams is a slippery customer.
Daley is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Sams is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Sams trying to control from the bottom.
Daley content to control rather than advance.

Daley looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Will Sams dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Daley shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Sams counters with a nice double leg into side control. Daley won't be happy with that.
Daley struggling a bit here.
Sams trying to control the position but Daley is working away.
Sams wants to control for a moment but Daley uses the opportunity to move back to half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sams is looking to stall here but Daley recovers full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sams trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Daley is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Sams stops Daley from standing up.
Sams looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Sams missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Daley wants to sweep here but Sams controlling him for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sams wants to pass the guard but Daley is keeping the position.
Will Sams has got the better of the ground game so far.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Will Sams hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Sams slips under a jab from Daley.
A jab from Daley misses.
Daley throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Sams counters with a series of strikes. Daley will be more careful next time no doubt.
Paul Daley seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Daley has his takedown stuffed

and Sams counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Sams has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Daley is proving hard to escape from.
Sams with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sams trying to control the position from guard on top but Daley is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Daley wants to stand up but Sams is controlling him.
Daley trying to keep a closed guard but Sams is proving a slippery customer.
Sams stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Daley swivels though and keeps the full guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Daley shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Sams decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Daley's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Will Sams showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Sams getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Daley shoots in but Sams avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Sams connects with a body shot.
A punch combination from Daley misses.

Sams looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

Sams decides to stand and escape the position.
Sams looking to land some kicks to the body here.
The fight stays on the outside here - Sams looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Daley gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Sams seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Daley escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Sams gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Sams stops Daley from standing up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Sams wants to stand but Daley has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Sams is stalling in the full guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Will Sams.
Sams dodges the punch combination from Daley.
Daley doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Sams decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Daley's guard.

Sams has gone for a leg lock! Daley slips out almost immediately though and dives into Sams's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sams wants to stand and escape but Daley is having none of it.
Daley trying to control the position from guard on top but Sams is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sams throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Daley wants to control from the top but Sams keeps moving.
Daley preventing the sweep.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Paul Daley.

Sams shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Daley manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Daley looking to control.
Paul Daley has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sams looking to sit in guard and control but Daley gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Daley trying to control but Sams is working from the bottom.
Sams not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Sams has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Daley can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Daley trying to control the position from guard on top but Sams is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

And that's the end of the fight!
Will Sams comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Sams has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 27:30
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Will Sams!